Over 50 DeKalb Jail Inmates Get COVID-19 Vaccinations

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — More than 50 DeKalb County Jail inmates chose to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Inmate requests for vaccinations are increasing each day, DeKalb Sheriff Melody Maddox said. The sheriff's office said 55 inmates voluntarily received their first-dose vaccination this week.

“Educational sessions by Wellpath, our inmate health services provider, have helped inmates make informed decisions about taking advantage of this opportunity while in our custody,” Maddox said.

There are no positive cases of COVID-19 among inmates at the DeKalb County Jail, according to a Thursday news release, and there have been no inmate or employee deaths due to the illness since the pandemic began. The jail imposes a temporary housing quarantine on new arrestees as a precautionary measure before allowing them to interact with other inmates.

Since the pandemic began in March last year, the DeKalb County Jail saw 284 positive COVID-19 cases among inmates and 125 positive cases among employees and vendors.

In the event that an inmate — who received their first dose while in custody — is released from jail before receiving the second dose, the sheriff's office will provide a vaccination card with information on where they can get their second dose. Inmates will also be given a face mask and applicable medical materials, according to the release.